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Use of coronary calcium score scans from stand-alone multislice computed tomography for attenuation correction of myocardial perfusion SPECT

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the use of CT attenuation maps, generated from coronary calcium scoring (CCS) scans at in- and expiration with a 64-slice CT scanner, for attenuation correction (AC) of myocardial perfusion SPECT images.

Methods

Thirty-two consecutive patients underwent 99mTc-tetrofosmin gated adenosine stress/rest SPECT scan on an Infinia Hawkeye SPECT-CT device (GE Medical Systems) followed by CCS and CT angiography on a 64-slice CT. AC of the iteratively reconstructed images was performed with AC maps obtained: (a) from the “Hawkeye” low-resolution X-ray CT facility attached to the Infinia camera (IRAC); (b) from the CCS scan acquired on a 64-slice CT scanner during maximal inspiration (ACINSP) and (c) during normal expiration (ACEXP). Automatically determined uptake values of stress scans (QPS, Cedars Medical Sinai) from ACINSP and ACEXP were compared with IRAC. Agatston score (AS) values using ACINSPversus ACEXP were also compared.

Results

ACINSP and ACEXP resulted in identical findings versus IRAC by visual analysis. A good correlation for uptake values between IRAC and ACINSP was found (apex, r=0.92; anterior, r=0.85; septal, r=0.91; lateral, r=0.86; inferior, r=0.90; all p<0.0001). The correlation was even closer between IRAC and ACEXP (apex, r=0.97; anterior, r=0.91; septal, r=0.94; lateral, r=0.92; inferior, r=0.97; all p<0.0001). The mean AS during inspiration (319±737) and expiration(317±778) was comparable (p=NS).

Conclusion

Attenuation maps from CCS allow accurate AC of SPECT MPI images. ACEXP proved superior to ACINSP, suggesting that in hybrid scans CCS may be performed during normal expiration to allow its additional use for AC of SPECT MPI.

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Acknowledgements

Philipp A. Kaufmann was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF professorship grant No. PP00A-68835 and grant No. 31-68386). Hatem Alkadhi and Lotus Desbiolles were supported by the National Center of Competence in Research, Computer Aided and Image Guided Medical Interventions (NCCR CO-ME) of the Swiss National Science Foundation.

We are grateful to our head radiographer, Gabi Hasler, for her excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Tiziano Schepis, Oliver Gaemperli, Pascal Koepfli, Christine Rüegg, Cyrill Burger & Philipp A. Kaufmann

  2. Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Sebastian Leschka, Lotus Desbiolles, Lars Husmann & Hatem Alkadhi

  3. Centre for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Philipp A. Kaufmann

  4. Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Tiziano Schepis, Oliver Gaemperli, Pascal Koepfli & Philipp A. Kaufmann

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  1. Tiziano Schepis
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  2. Oliver Gaemperli
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  4. Christine Rüegg
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  10. Philipp A. Kaufmann
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Correspondence to Philipp A. Kaufmann.

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Schepis, T., Gaemperli, O., Koepfli, P. et al. Use of coronary calcium score scans from stand-alone multislice computed tomography for attenuation correction of myocardial perfusion SPECT. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 34, 11–19 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0173-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0173-8

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